Loom picker



J. V. LOOPER March 2, 1954 LOOM PICKER Filed March 24, 1952 JAMES V LooPER.

' INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY-S Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 2,670,765

DOOM PICKER James V. Looper, Bessemer City, N. C;

Application March' 24, 1952, Serial No. 278,169

9 Claims. 1,

This invention relates to improvements in loom pickers of the type usually associated with multiple shuttle looms audit is the general object of the invention to provide a picker so designed asto; reduce the wear on the picker stick and to prolong the useful life of the picker.

Pickers of the type associated with multiple shuttlelooms are usually somewhat pear-shaped and molded from leather; plastic or the like or they'may even be made from wood. Thistype of picker is usually mounted on a rod disposed rearwardly of the shuttle box'on a loom and on which the picker has longitudinal sliding movement. The picker has a portion thereof which projects through a slot in the shuttle box andserves to engageand throw the'shuttle across thelay of the. loom. Now, this'type-of'picker is provided with'a vertically extending opening having convex side walls and the picker stick extends through this opening and-engages either of the walls, depending upon the direction of move mentiof the'picker stick, to thereby impart movement: to the picker.-

Accordingly, the. picker stick engages a relatively" small'area' on the'picker as it effects reciprocatory movement to the picker and-this not only strains the picker stick, at times causing the-same to break, but, also; the constant pounding of thepicker stick against the'convex walls of the'opening in' the picker through which it extends soon-causes the convex walls to become soibadly worn as to irreparably damagethe picker andzto require that the picker be-replaced.

Inorder to'overcomesuchdefects, it is another object of this invention to provide a picker oisthe character last described with a-wear plate, preferably made from sheet metal, which is adapted/to be pivotally connected intermediate itszends. to either of the said convex walls of the. opening in the picker through which the picker stick extends, thewear'plate projecting beyond the upper and lower surfacesof the picker to. thus provide asubstantially greater surface to: be engaged" by the picker stick upon each active stroke of the picker stick and whereby the wear plate will-adjust itself to the angularity of the picker stick through the-course of its active stroke so the entire length of the wear plate remains inengagement with the picker stick throughout the active stroke of the picker stick thus obviating wearing-of the corresponding convex surface of the picker and distributing the forcerappliedby the picker stick over a substantial area to; thereby prolong the. useful-life of thepicker: stick and the picker;.

Some of? the: objects of 1 the invention.- having been stated, other objects will appear asv the description proceeds-,whenrtaken in connection with the accompanyinggdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of a loom showing the shuttlebox at one enclrofv the lay-of the :loom, this shuttle box being of the typeusually associated with amuhtiple shuttle loom, and showing the improved picker in association therewith;

Figure 2 isan enlarged vertical'sectional view, taken substantially along the line 22-- inFigure 1,, showing the. upper" end .of the picker stick in phantom or broken lines;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the improved picker disassociated from-:the loom Figure 4 is another isometric view of the improved pickerlooking at theyopposite'side thereof from that shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, showing the wear: plate in elevation; taken substantially alongthe line 5-5 in Figure 2.1

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 1 l 0 generally. indicates the frameof a loom relative to which a lay H hasforward and rearward reciprocatory movement; This-lay has a shuttle box. [.2 to receive and; expel. a shuttles carrying arquill .or bobbin B. fromwhich weft yarn'W is withdrawn as. the shuttle-LS,- is thrown in opposite directions"across the lay I I; The shuttle box It has front and backiwalls. l3 and [4, respectively, between which the: shuttle S is located and the back wall I4 is provided with alongitudinally extending slot therein, defined by the broken lines [Sand Hiythrough which the improved pear-shaped picker P extends.

The lay also carries a guide rod ll spacedrear.- wardly ofthe shuttle box I2 andithepickerxB has-an enlarged rear or outer portion I91 provided with a longitudinally extending bore 20 therethroughwhich is slidably penetrated by the rod I1 whereby'thepicker P has longitudinal sliding movement on. the: guide rod IT. The picker has an enlarged inner or shuttlezbunter portion 2I-which is'of less length than the 'em larged outer portion l9; The-portions I9 and' 2'l" are spanned: by a relatively thin bridging portion 22-integral therewithiand the-picker P'has stantially convextwalls 2B andllfwhich walls 24 to 21, inclusive, define the-opening.23-.- It will-be observed that. the relatively thin bridgingportion 22 of, the picker P rides inorextendsthroughthe.

slot defined by the broken lines l5 and [6. The upper end of a picker stick 30 extends through the opening 23 and this picker stick 30 is driven by conventional means, not shown, to move about a pivot point spaced substantially below the shuttle box l2, as is well known, to cause the picker stick 3'0 to reciprocate between the guide rod I! and the rear or back wall I 4 of the shuttle box [2.

Heretofore, the picker stick 30 has alternately engaged the opposite end walls 26 and 21 of the opening 23 in the picker P and these end walls 26 and 21 have ben convex due to the constantly changing angle at which the pickerstick 36 engages the walls 26 and 21, since the picker stick 30 is pivoted at its lower end on. the loom. 7

The picker P as heretofore described is con ventional as are the associated parts of the loom heretofore described. The improvement in the pear-shaped picker P is embodied in a pivoted wear plate or element 32 which is relatively nar row in proportion to its length so as to have freedom of pivotal movement between the front and rear walls 25 and 25 of the opening 23. In order to accommodate the wear plate or element 32, each of the end walls 26 and 21 of the opening 23 in the pear-shaped picker P is provided with a transverse groove 33 and the central portion of the wear plate or element 32 has a lateral projection 34 formed thereon which also forms a lateral groove or depression 35 in the outer face of the central portion of the wear plate or element 32.

The lateral projection 34 has a curved outer surface which conforms substantially to the curvature of the bottom of the corresponding groove 33 and in which this lateral projection 34 is adapted to have pivotal movement. In order to support the improved wear plate or element 32, a suitable shaft 36 may be provided, which is disposed in the groove 35 in the wear plate 32. This shaft 36 serves to pivotally support the wear plate or element 32 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and each of the end walls and 2! has a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending holes is therein which are penetrated by the legs 42 of the shaft 35. The outer ends of the legs 42 are bent against the outer surface of the pear-shaped picker P to thereby secure the shaft 36 in position in the corresponding pair of holes 40.

. It is evident that'the shaft 35 may be suitably embedded in the front and rear walls 24 and 26 at opposite ends thereof rather than being made in the form of a staple if desired. However, the staple form shown is believed to embody the most simple and economical manner in which the pivoted wear plate or element 32 may be supported.

It will be observed in Figure 4 that opposite sides hunter portion 2| becoming worn extensively by repeated impacts of the shuttle S, which forms a conical cavity in the hunter portion 2! as shown in Figure 1, the picker P can be turned overso that the opposite end of the shuttle bunte'r poi tion 2| may be engaged by the shuttles 'as'th'e shuttle is thrown into the shuttle box. 12; In the latter instance, it is evident that the improved pivoted wear plate 32 may be removed from the groove 33 in the wall 26 and supported by the wall 21 in the identical manner in which it is shown as being supported by the wall 26 in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5.

It is thus seen that there is provided an improved wear plate for loom pickershaving meansto pivotally support the wear plate intermediate its upper and lower ends on'either of the end walls 26 or 21 of the opening 23 in the pear-shaped picker P with the upper and lower ends of the wearplate extending beyond the upper and lower surfaces of the picker P to provide a relatively larger surface area for engagement by the picker stick 30 in the course of each active stroke thereof and the pivotal connection serving to permit the wear plate to automatically adjust itself to the varying angularity. of the corresponding surface of the picker stick in the. courseof each active stroke of the picker stick. It is evident that this will greatly prolong the useful life of both the picker stick and the picker as compared'lto the use of picker sticks with pickers of thetype heretofore in use. i It might be stated that the upper and'lo'wer edges of the end walls 26 and 21 are cut-away to provide the convex surfaces with less'radii than that of the end walls on the usual pear shaped pickers in order to provide ample clear:- ance to permit sufficient pivotal movement of the wear plate 32 whereby-the wear plate can adjust itself to the extreme angular positions occupied by the picker stick 30 in the course of itsirciprocating movement. It-is tobe noted that the upper and-lower edges of'thewear plate. are also beveled or rounded to prevent damage to"the pickerstick 30. In the drawings and specification, 'thereiui's been set forth a preferred embodimentv off'the invention and although specifio'terms are 'employed, they are used in a generic and descripe tive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims. 1 7 'Iclaim: 1. In a picker for looms, said picker having'a vertically extending opening defined by side walls and end walls through which a pick-er stick .is adapted to extend, the combination of a wear plate, means pivotally securing'thewea rplate intermediate its upper and lower ends to one of the walls of the opening of said pickerjand the upper and lower ends of the wear plate extend: ing at least as far as the upper and lower surfaces of the picker to protect the pickerzs'tick whereby the wear plate can adjustjitself tjo the varying angularity of the picker stick; in; the course of each active stroke'of the picker stick in engagement therewith.- '1 2. In a picker for looms, said picker having a vertically extending opening therethrough through which a picker stick is adapted to extend; said opening being defined by side walls and op'poe site endwalls the combination of a wear plate adapted to be disposed betweenthe, sidelwall's of said opening, at least one of the side walls having a transverse groove intermediate-its up-r per and lower ends, said wear plate being formed from relatively thin strap material and-having a depression formed 7 in; one 'side, "thereof; said depression also forming .a projection .on' the opposite side of saidwear plate, amean's carried by the picker and disposed said g'roov e for pivotally supporting the wear plate-intermediate its ends, said projection on the wear plate being adapted to be disposed in the groove in the corresponding end wall of the opening and the opposite ends of the wear plate extending beyond the opposite surfaces of the picker whereby the wear plate will serve to protect the picker stick and will adjust itself to the angularity of the picker stick during movement of the picker stick.

3. In a picker for looms, said picker having a vertically extending opening therethrough for loosely receiving the upper end of a picker stick, the combination of a wear plate adapted to have its medial portion extend through said opening against a corresponding wall of said opening, said wall having a horizontal groove therein, a lateral projection on one side of said wear plate adapted to slidably fit in said groove, said wear plate having a lateral groove in the other side thereof adjacent said projection, a shaft adapted to fit in the groove in the wear plate for pivotally supporting the wear plate and said shaft having leg portions embedded in said wall of the opening.

4. In a picker for looms, said picker having a vertically extending opening therethrough defined by spaced side walls and spaced end walls, a picker stick adapted to loosely penetrate said opening and said end Walls being convex; the combination of a wear plate supported against at least one of said end walls, the latter end wall having a transverse groove therein of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration, a transverse projection on said wear plate and also being of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration to fit for pivotal movement in said groove, and means to pivotally retain said transverse projection in said groove.

5. In a picker for looms, said picker having a vertically extending opening therethrough defined by spaced side walls and spaced end Walls, a picker stick adapted to loosely penetrate said opening and said end walls being convex; the combination of a wear plate supported against at least one of said end walls, the latter end wall havin a transverse groove therein of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration, a transverse projection intermediate the opposite ends of said wear plate and also being of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration to fit for pivotal movement in said groove, and means to pivotally retain said transverse projection in said groove.

6. In a picker for looms, said picker having a vertically extending opening therethrough defined by spaced side walls and spaced end walls, a picker stick adapted to loosely penetrate said opening and said end walls being convex; the combination of a wear plate supported against at least one of said end walls, the latter end wall having a transverse groove therein of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration, a transverse projection intermediate the opposite ends of said wear plate and also being of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration to fit for pivotal movement in said groove, means to pivotally retain said transverse projection in said groove, and the opposite ends of said wear plate extending beyond the opposite surfaces of said picker.

7. In a picker for looms, said picker having a vertically extending opening therethrough defined by spaced side walls and spaced end walls, a picker stick adapted to loosely penetrate said opening and said end Walls being convex; the

combination of a wear plate supported against at least one of said end walls, the latter end wall having a transverse groove therein of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration, a transverse projection on said Wear plate and also being of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration to fit for pivotal movement in said groove, said wear plate having a transverse groove in the surface thereof opposite to the surface having the projection thereon and being in the same plane as said projection, and a shaft carried by said picker and extending through said last-named groove to pivotally support said wear plate with the projection thereon disposed in the first-named groove.

8. In a picker for looms, said picker having a vertically extending opening therethrough defined by spaced side walls and spaced end walls, a picker stick adapted to loosely penetrate said opening and said end walls being convex; the combination of a wear plate supported against at least one of said end walls, the latter end Wall having a transverse groove therein of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration, a transverse projection intermediate the opposite ends of said wear plate and also being of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration to fit for pivotal movement in said groove, said wear plate having a transverse groove in the surface thereof opposite to the surface having the projection thereon and being in the same plane as said projection, and a shaft carried, by said picker and extending through said last-named groove to pivotally support said wear plate with the projection thereon disposed in the first-named groove.

9. In a picker for looms, said picker having a vertically extending opening therethrough defined by spaced side walls and spaced end walls, a picker stick adapted to loosely penetrate said opening and said end walls being convex; the combination of a wear plate supported against at least one of said end walls, the latter end wall having a transverse groove therein of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration, a transverse projection intermediate the opposite ends of said wear plate and also being of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional configuration to fit for pivotal movement in said groove, said wear plate having a transverse groove in the surface thereof opposite to the surface having the projection thereon and being in the same plane as said projection, a shaft carried by said picker and extending through said last-named groove to pivotally support said wear plate with the projection thereon disposed in the first-named groove, and the opposite ends of said wear plate extending beyond the opposite surfaces of said picker.

JAMES V. LOOPER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

